Combustion installation having at least one interfering element removal means in the conveyor line for the combustion residues

ABSTRACT

A combustion installation has a combustion chamber for the combustion of a fuel, wherein combustion residues of the fuel combusted in the combustion chamber are fed, via an outlet of the combustion chamber, to a crusher for the purpose of comminuting the combustion residues, and at least one interfering element removal means is arranged in a conveyor line for the combustion residues, by means of which interfering elements that are conveyed in the combustion residues but cannot be comminuted by the crusher can be removed via an interfering element removal opening.

The present invention relates to a combustion plant, especially of the coal-fired power plant type, the biomass-fired combined heat and power plant type or the refuse incineration plant type. Combustion plants of this kind serve especially for power generation, heat generation and/or disposal of waste.

Regular operation of combustion plants involves burning, in a combustion space, of fuels, for example coal, biomass and/or refuse, the combustion residues of which have to be removed from the combustion space of the combustion plant. For this purpose, the combustion spaces regularly have at least one outlet for the combustion residues, through which the combustion residues are supplied to a crusher for comminution of the combustion residues and to a conveyor to transport the combustion residues away.

The combustion residues entrained out of the combustion space may include blocking bodies, which are, for example, very large lumps of the combustion residues and/or large pieces of metal that are not comminutable or have not been comminuted sufficiently by the crushers and can lead to blockage of a conveying zone for the combustion residues or of the conveyor. These blocking bodies can be retained by a grid downstream of the crusher and be removed after the combustion plant has been shut down or run down, which may be possible only after a phase of cooling of the combustion plant of several days. The situation is similar when blocking bodies in the form of metallic bodies (for example destroyed and/or lost constituents of components of the combustion plant) come to rest on the grid of the crushers. These cannot be crushed by the crusher and thus disrupt the function of the crusher, unless the blocking body is removed.

It is therefore an object of the invention to at least partly solve the problems outlined with reference to the prior art and, more particularly, to specify a combustion plant in which blocking bodies can be easily removed during the operation of the combustion plant.

These objects are achieved by a combustion plant according to the features of the independent patent claim. Further advantageous embodiments of the combustion plant are specified in the dependent claims. It should be pointed out that the individual features of the dependent claims can be combined with one another in any technologically meaningful manner and define further embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, the features specified in the claims are specified and explained in more detail in the description, detailing further preferred embodiments of the invention.

The combustion plant has a combustion space for combustion of a fuel, wherein combustion residues of the fuel burnt in the combustion space are suppliable via an outlet from the combustion space to a crusher for comminution of the combustion residues and wherein, by means of at least one blocking body remover disposed in a conveying zone for the combustion residues, blocking bodies that have been entrained in the combustion residues and are not comminutable by the crusher are removable from the conveying zone via a blocking body removal opening.

The combustion plant proposed here is especially an industrial plant for power generation, heat generation and/or waste disposal. The combustion plant has a combustion space for combustion of a fuel, which is especially coal, biomass and/or refuse. The combustion residues, especially of the ash and/or slag type, of the fuel burnt in the combustion space are suppliable by at least one outlet from the combustion space to a crusher for comminution of the combustion residues. The outlet from the combustion space especially takes the form of an opening and/or shaft at the bottom of the combustion space.

The crusher may, for example, be what is called a jaw crusher. The crusher is preferably disposed below the combustion space of the combustion plant. By means of the crusher, the combustion residues are comminutable especially in such a way that the comminuted combustion residues can then be reliably transported away by means of a conveyor. Alternatively or additionally, the crusher may also be downstream of the conveyor. For this purpose, the conveyor may comprise at least one (circulating) conveyor belt in the form, for example, of a plate conveyor. The conveyor belt here is especially of such a form that it can withstand the high temperatures of the combustion residues of, for example, 800° C. (Celsius) to 1300° C. For this purpose, the conveyor belt is preferably at least partly formed from metal. Alternatively, the conveyor may also take the form of a screw conveyor. As well as transporting the combustion residues away, the conveyor may also serve to cool and/or to solidify the combustion residues. In addition, the conveyor is especially what is called a dry conveyor that enables cooling and/or solidification of the hot combustion residues without quenching of the combustion residues with water. Alternatively, the conveyor may also be what is called a wet conveyor.

At least one blocking body remover is disposed in a conveying zone for the combustion residues from the combustion space to the crusher or conveyor, by which blocking bodies that have been entrained in the combustion residues and are not comminutable by the crusher are removable via a blocking body removal opening. The conveying zone is especially a region or pathway along which the combustion residues are conveyed. The conveying zone is at least partly (for safety reasons usually completely) enclosed or surrounded by walls and/or in the form of a chute, a shaft, a funnel or slide. The combustion residues are transported along the conveying zone especially (also) by means of gravity.

The blocking bodies are especially large-volume (hard) lumps of the combustion residues that are too large for comminution by the crusher and/or (large) metal bodies, for example lance pipes from a cleaning apparatus in the combustion plant that have fallen into the combustion space. The blocking bodies may especially have, in at least one direction, at least an extent of more than 200 mm (millimeters) or even more than 400 mm. Thus, the blocking bodies are too hard and/or too large for comminution by the crusher. It should be made clear that the blocking bodies are thus especially not gaseous pollutants and/or dusts that could readily pass through the crusher.

The blocking bodies are removable from the conveying zone for the combustion residues via the blocking body removal opening by means of the at least one blocking body remover disposed at a position across the conveying zone within the conveying zone and/or at the conveying zone for the combustion residues. Thus, the blocking bodies are separable from the remaining combustion residues by the at least one blocking body remover, such that the blocking bodies and the combustion residues are subsequently conveyable and/or treatable separately.

The blocking body removal opening is especially a (closable and/or at least partly blockable) opening in a wall that at least partly surrounds the conveying zone, or an opening in the crusher through which the blocking bodies are removable from the crusher separately from the combustion residues. For this purpose, the blocking body removal opening may have a diameter of at least 400 mm. The blocking bodies are therefore not comminuted by the crusher and not transported away by the downstream conveyor, but transported away and/or treated separately from the other combustion residues. The blocking bodies can therefore be removed through the at least one blocking body remover and the blocking body removal opening during the normal operation of the combustion plant (“online”). It is thus possible to avoid shutdowns of the combustion plant that lead to high costs.

In addition, it is advantageous when the at least one blocking body remover comprises a first grid at least partly disposed in the conveying zone for the combustion residues and wherein the blocking bodies are separable from the combustion residues by means of the first grid. The first grid may especially take the form of a sieve and/or have a multitude of grid openings that have, for example, a diameter of 100 mm to 800 mm (millimeters), preferably 100 mm to 400 mm or more preferably 100 mm to 200 mm. For the first grid, support elements and/or securing elements may be provided in and/or on the conveying zone or on a wall of the conveying zone. Optionally, the first grid may be movable by means of the support elements and/or securing elements, especially parallel to a plane of extent of the first grid or in a horizontal direction. This first grid especially has the function of retaining the blocking bodies in the conveying zone in a defined position relative to the blocking body remover and/or the blocking body removal opening, while the combustion residues can be transported further.

It is likewise advantageous when the first grid for removal of the blocking bodies is at least partly tiltable or movable by the blocking body removal opening. The first grid is thus at least partly tiltable and/or movable out of the conveying zone for the combustion residues. In addition, the first grid in the conveying zone thus especially takes the form of a drawer. In this way, the blocking bodies can be removed by the first grid outside the conveying zone for the combustion residues, i.e. in a region of the combustion plant in which temperatures are less than 60° C. and/or which is accessible by personnel during the normal operation of the combustion plant. The first grid may completely cover the cross section of the conveying zone. It is possible that the first grid is designed so as to be much larger than the cross section of the conveying zone, such that, even in the state when it is (partly) withdrawn, it simultaneously still (at least partly) covers the cross section of the conveying zone. In the case of a tiltable (or pivotable) first grid, the blocking bodies on the first grid may especially slide in the direction of the blocking body removal opening and/or through the blocking body removal opening. The first grid tilts/pivots especially from a horizontal position to a position inclined downward, such that blocking bodies present on the first grid (possibly at least partly automatically owing to gravity) can move toward the blocking body removal opening.

In addition, it is advantageous when the at least one blocking body remover comprises at least one first crusher element of the crusher, wherein the combustion residues are comminutable with the at least one first crusher element and wherein the at least one first crusher element is movable to clear the blocking body removal opening.

In this configuration, the crusher is especially what is called a jaw crusher having a first crusher jaw as first crusher element and a second crusher jaw as second crusher element. The at least one blocking body remover may thus also include the jaw crusher. In such a jaw crusher, the combustion residues especially pass through a funnel into a grinding space. The combustion residues are then comminuted in a shaft, especially a wedge-shape shaft, between the first crusher jaw and the second crusher jaw. During the comminution of the combustion residues, the first crusher jaw is especially disposed in a fixed or immobile manner. During the comminution of the combustion residues, the second crusher jaw is disposed in a movable manner, such that the combustion residues are crushed and conveyed downward between the first crusher jaw and the second crusher jaw. It is possible that the first crusher jaw and the second crusher jaw are disposed in a movable manner. As soon as the combustion residues are smaller than a set minimum distance between the first crusher element and the second crusher element, the comminuted combustion residues fall through the crusher owing to gravity and can subsequently be transported away by the conveyor, for example. For removal of a blocking body from the crusher, the at least one first crusher element is movable, i.e. especially movable horizontally and/or vertically, in such a way that the blocking body removal opening is cleared or opened. In this way, the blocking body is removable from the crusher through the blocking body removal opening.

It is further advantageous when the at least one blocking body remover comprises a slider and wherein the blocking bodies are removable through the blocking body removal opening with the slider. The slider is especially a mechanical means by which the blocking bodies can be removed from the first grid or from the crusher.

In addition, it is advantageous when the crusher includes a second crusher element that cooperates with the at least one first crusher element in the comminution of the combustion residues. The second crusher element is especially the second crusher jaw of the jaw crusher.

It is particularly advantageous when the blocking bodies are removable through the blocking body removal opening with the second crusher element. For this purpose, the second crusher element of the crusher is especially movable, such that the blocking bodies can be pushed out of the crusher through the blocking body removal opening. The second crusher element especially moves in a horizontal direction with respect thereto, in the direction of the blocking body removal opening. For this purpose, the second crusher element may be connected to at least one hydraulic cylinder, for example.

It is additionally advantageous when the crusher includes at least one second grid by which the blocking bodies are separable from the combustion residues. The at least one second grid is especially disposed at a bottom of a space formed between the first crusher element and the second crusher element, and/or is also known to specialists as a “GRID”. The at least one second grid may especially take the form of a sieve and/or have a multitude of grid openings that have, for example, a diameter of 100 mm to 800 mm (millimeters), preferably 100 mm to 400 mm or more preferably 100 mm to 200 mm.

In addition, it is advantageous when there is at least one opening in the region of the at least one blocking body remover across the conveying zone. This at least one opening may, for example, be a “poke hole” through which the blocking bodies can be moved manually through the blocking body removal opening, for example by means of a mechanical aid. If required, a blocking body can also be pre-crushed above the poke holes in order that it fits better through the blocking body removal opening. For this purpose, a crushing tool can be inserted (temporarily) through a poke hole and be brought into contact with the blocking body present on the first grid. The at least one opening is especially disposed a maximum of 2 meters away from the at least one blocking body remover.

In addition, it is advantageous when the combustion plant includes a mobile receiving container to receive the blocking bodies removed through the blocking body removal opening. For this purpose, the receiving container may have wheels, for example, and/or be movable with a floor conveyor, for example a pallet truck or forklift truck.

In addition, at least one means of detection may be provided, with which it is possible to detect whether or which blocking bodies are currently present at the blocking body remover. A means of detection for determining the weight of the blocking bodies may be provided. An optical means of detection for visual monitoring of the conveying zone in the region of the blocking body remover may be provided. The at least one means of detection may be connected to a controller that can give a signal to a control panel and/or initiate/end the operation of the blocking body remover or the blocking body removal opening.

The invention and the technical field are explained in detail hereinafter with reference to the figures. It should be pointed out that the figures show particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, but the invention is not limited thereto. Identical components in the figures are given the same reference numerals. The figures show, by way of example and in schematic form:

FIG. 1: a first embodiment of the combustion plant with a closed blocking body removal opening;

FIG. 2: the first embodiment of the combustion plant with an open blocking body removal opening;

FIG. 3: a second embodiment of the combustion plant with an open blocking body removal opening;

FIG. 4: a third embodiment of the combustion plant with a closed blocking body removal opening; and

FIG. 5: the third embodiment of the combustion plant with a closed blocking body removal opening.

FIG. 1 shows a combustion plant 1 with a combustion space 2, in which a fuel (not shown here) is combustible. The combustion residues 3 that result from the combustion of the fuel in the combustion space 2 are suppliable via an outlet 4 from the combustion space 2 along a conveying zone 6 to a crusher 5 and a conveyor 18. The combustion residues 3 are conveyed along the conveying zone 6 with the aid of gravity. The combustion residues 3 are comminuted by the crusher 5 and then transported away by the conveyor 18. The conveyor 18 has a circulating conveyor belt with an upper strand 19 and a lower strand 20. The conveyor is at least partly surrounded by a housing 21 and especially connected in an essentially gastight manner to the combustion space 2. Blocking bodies 8 are entrained with the combustion residues 3 and are not comminutable by the crusher 5 owing to their hardness and/or size. The combustion plant 1 therefore has a blocking body remover 7 which, in the first embodiment shown here, takes the form of a first grid 10 disposed in the conveying zone 6 for the combustion residues 3 between the outlet 4 of the combustion space 2 and the crusher 5.

As shown in FIG. 2, the grid 10 of the blocking body remover 7 is withdrawable laterally from the conveying zone 6 for the combustion residues 3 through a blocking body removal opening 9 formed in a wall 23 surrounding the conveying zone 6. In the withdrawn position, the blocking bodies 8 that have been filtered out of the combustion residues 3 by the first grid 10 can be removed without needing to shut down or run down the combustion plant.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of a combustion plant 1 that differs from the first embodiment of the combustion plant 1 in that the blocking body remover 7 has a first grid 10 tiltable or pivotable about a pivot axis 25. As a result, the first grid 10 forms an oblique plane, such that the blocking bodies 8 can slide through the blocking body removal opening 9, which is open here, out of the conveying zone 6. The blocking body removal opening 9 can be closed by a flap (not shown here).

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of a combustion plant 1 that differs from the first and second embodiments of the combustion plant 1 in that the blocking body remover 7 comprises a first crusher element 11 of the crusher 5. The crusher 5 here takes the form of a jaw crusher and comprises a first crusher jaw as first crusher element 11 and a second crusher jaw as second crusher element 13, between which the combustion residues 3 are comminutable. In addition, the crusher 5 has a second grid 14 which is disposed directly beneath the first crusher element 11 and the second crusher element 13 and which separates the blocking bodies 8 from the remaining combustion residues 3. The crusher 5 is shown here in a normal operating position in which the first crusher element 11 is in a locked position, the second crusher element 13 can be made to vibrate, for example by means of an eccentric shaft (not shown here) or a hydraulic cylinder and/or by a simple drive and in which the combustion residues 3 are comminutable by the crusher 5. It should be made clear here that the second embodiment of the combustion plant 1 does not have a first grid 10 in the conveying zone 6 for the combustion residues 3, even though this is possible in principle.

FIG. 5 shows the third embodiment of the combustion plant 1 after a blocking body removal opening 9 has been opened by lateral movement or displacement of the first crusher element 11 in a horizontal direction, such that the blocking bodies 8 are removable from the second grid 14 out of the crusher 5 by the second crusher element 13, in the form here of a slider 12. It should be made clear that the first crusher element 11 can also be designed in a vertical direction and/or in pivotable form. The second crusher element 13 is movable along the second grid 14 in the direction of the blocking body removal opening 9 by means of at least one hydraulic cylinder 24, such that the blocking bodies 8 fall through the blocking body removal opening 9 and a chute 22 into a receiving container 16. Both the chute 22 and the receiving container 16 have a mobile configuration. For this purpose, the chute 22 is secured to the receiving container 16 and movable therewith. Subsequently, the first crusher element 11 and the second crusher element 13 return to their starting position or locked position. Above the crusher 5 there is an opening 15 disposed in the wall 23 in a shaft beneath the outlet 4 from the combustion space 2, which is closed here by means of a flap 17. Through the opening 15, the blocking bodies 8 can be moved manually on the second grid 14, for example by means of a mechanical aid, in the direction of the blocking body removal opening 9.

It should be pointed out by way of precaution that the features of the embodiments shown in the figures can be individualized and/or combined with one another, unless this has been explicitly ruled out. This is especially true with regard to the features relating to the first grid and/or to the crusher.

It is a particular advantage of the present invention that blocking bodies can be removed in normal operation of a combustion plant without having to shut down the combustion plant.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1 combustion plant -   2 combustion space -   3 combustion residues -   4 outlet -   5 crusher -   6 conveying zone -   7 blocking body remover -   8 blocking body -   9 blocking body removal opening -   10 first grid -   11 first crusher element -   12 slider -   13 second crusher element -   14 second grid -   15 opening -   16 receiving container -   17 flap -   18 conveyor -   19 upper strand -   20 lower strand -   21 housing -   22 chute -   23 wall -   24 hydraulic cylinder -   25 pivot axis 

1. A combustion plant having a combustion space for combustion of a fuel, wherein combustion residues of the fuel burnt in the combustion space are suppliable via an outlet from the combustion space to a crusher for comminution of the combustion residues and wherein, by means of at least one blocking body remover disposed in a conveying zone for the combustion residues, blocking bodies that have been entrained in the combustion residues and are not comminutable by the crusher are removable from the conveying zone via a blocking body removal opening.
 2. The combustion plant as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one blocking body remover comprises a first grid at least partly disposed in the conveying zone for the combustion residues and wherein the blocking bodies are separable from the combustion residues by means of the first grid.
 3. The combustion plant as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first grid for removal of the blocking bodies is at least partly tiltable or movable by the blocking body removal opening.
 4. The combustion plant as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one blocking body remover comprises at least one first crusher element of the crusher, wherein the combustion residues are comminutable with the at least one first crusher element and wherein the at least one first crusher element is movable to clear the blocking body removal opening.
 5. The combustion plant as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one blocking body remover comprises a slider and wherein the blocking bodies are removable through the blocking body removal opening with the slider.
 6. The combustion plant as claimed in claim 5, wherein the crusher includes a second crusher element that cooperates with the at least one first crusher element in the comminution of the combustion residues.
 7. The combustion plant as claimed in claim 6, wherein the blocking bodies are removable through the blocking body removal opening with the second crusher element.
 8. The combustion plant as claimed in claim 3, wherein the crusher includes at least one second grid by which the blocking bodies are separable from the combustion residues.
 9. The combustion plant as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is at least one opening in the region of the at least one blocking body remover across the conveying zone.
 10. The combustion plant as claimed in claim 1, including a mobile receiving container to receive the blocking bodies removed through the blocking body removal opening. 